Telescoping socket for fluorescent light tubes



y 1951 G. B. KURTZON I 2,560,877

mascomc socm FOR nuonsscm 1.10m mass mm m. s. 194? 2 Shatp-Shebt 1 s B KURTZON 2,560,877

TELESCOPING socm FOR FLUORESCENT new mass 1947 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 8., IF m w N NW 1 1 July 17, 1951 Filed Jan. 3.

I .1 I .1 I I I I 7 I 1 Patented July 17, 1951 TELESCOPING SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBES George B. Kurtzon, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Garden City Plating ,& Manufacturing 00., a corporation of Illinois Application January 3, 1947, Serial No. 719,972

This invention relates to an electric light fixture, and particularly to a fixture adapted to hold a fluorescent light tube.

The present invention is concerned with means, including sockets, for mounting a comparatively thin elongated fluorescent light tube in a narrow, channel-shaped reflector. The sockets for holding the opposite ends of the fluorescent tube are easy to assemble with the reflector, and may be readily secured thereto in any desired position to accommodate a fluorescent tube of any length. One of the sockets is provided with a retractable section to permit the ends of the fluorescent tube to be positioned in the sockets, or removed therefrom, without the necessity of disturbing the set position of either socket and without having to turn the tube to any specific position. The sockets hold the opposite ends of the tube securely in position with snugly fitting resilient contacts.

The structure by which the various results are attained will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fixture embodying a reflector and two sockets assembled there with in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom elevation of the fixture illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the two sockets with some parts disassembled to facilitate illustration of the structure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective showing one of the sockets assembled with the reflector;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the other socket assembled with the reflector;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the socket having a retractable section. taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the fixed socket;

Fig. 8 is another longitudinal sectional view through the fixed socket taken at right angles to the view in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the flxed socket looking from the left side of Fig. 7. in

In the drawings the reference numeral 2 indicates a channel-shaped reflector having lateral flanges 3 and 4 extending the entire length of each longitudinal edge of the channel. Both ends of the reflector are open so that sockets 5 and 6 may he slid into the reflector from either end. The sockets are preferably molded of hard rubber or any suitable plastic material.

taken on the 1 Claim. (Cl. 173-328) Socket 5 comprises a tubular section I having an integral cross wall 8 spaced from its left end (as viewed in Fig. 6) to leave a substantially cylindrical space 9 defined by the cross wall and a circular flange I0 which is integral with section I and projects beyond the cross wall. A tubular metal member II extends entirely through cross wall 8 and is permanently secured thereto. The inner wall surface of the member I I is threaded to receive a terminal screw I2. The contact area of member I I is increased by means of a metal flange I3 which fits into a recess I4 and is substantially flush with the surface of cross wall 8. Flange I3 may be integral with member I I or may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. A metal washer I5 encircles the end of member II on the opposite surface of cross wall 8 and is secured thereto by peening over the end oi member II, as indicated at I6, Fig. 6.

A coiled spiral metal spring I! has its smaller end encircling the portion of member I I adjacent flange I3 and is held in contact therewith by the retractable section I8 of the socket. The retractable section has an end wall I9. A metal washer 20 is positioned adjacent end wall I9 and spring I! exerts pressure against the washer in order to provide an electrical contact at this end of the socket. Washer 2!! may be secured to end wall I9 in any suitable manner, but it is preferably loose because the pressure of spring I! is su1ficient to hold it in place. End wall I9 has a comparatively large aperture 2I so that the terminal of a fluorescent light tube may project therethrough to engage an aperture 22 in metal washer 20. Aperture 22 is concentric with aperture 2| but is of smaller diameter and, with the aid of spring pressure from the coiled spring II, will hold the terminal, of the fluorescent light tube against rattling or accidental displacement. Section I8 of the socket is preferably provided with a semicircular flan e I8, projecting to the right (as seen in Fig. 6) and adapted to engage a portion of the end of the fluorescent light tube to facilitate positioning of the tube with its terminal enflector.

'| and longitudinally aligned with rib 24. Metal plate 23 is provided with an elongated slot 28 in the part that slides in groove 26. A screw 29 projecting through slot 28 and into rib 21 limits the relative longitudinal movement between the retractable section I8 and section 1 and prevents the separation of the two sections. In order to prevent any tendency of sections 1 and I8 to rotate relative to each other, section I is provided on its inside surface with an integral rib 30 extending longitudinally thereof, and section I8 is recessed, as indicated at 3|, to engage the sides of rib 30 at all times. Rib 30 and recess 3| are preferably diametrically opposite ribs 21 and 24. It will be obvious that the positions of rib 30 and recess 3| could be reversed.

A finger piece 32 is secured to metal plate 23 in any conventional manner to facilitate actuation of the longitudinal sliding movement of section |8 relative to section I. In this connection it will be noted that the fluorescent tube itself could be used to push socket section l8 back into section 1 against the action of the coiled spring H but it is preferred to provide a finger piece because of the additional time saved by its use and the lesser possibility of damage to the fluorescent tube.

I. The circular flange Ill-projecting to the left (Fig. 6) of member II is provided with recesses 33 for the passage of conventional wiring that is connected to metal member H by means of terminal screw |2. It is understood that the wiring of the fixture is entirely conventional and therefore will not be described in detail. The space 9 is closed by an insulation disk 34, which is preferably made of fiber board, al.- though it may be made of paper or any similar material. Disk 34 is secured adjacent its peripery to the end of flange H] by means of a screw 35. The edge of disk 34 is recessed, at a point diametrically opposite screw 35, to fit around a projection 36, integral with flan e ID,

to prevent rotation of the disk around the screw.

A support bracket '31 is secured tosocket section I by means of an arm 38 which is secured by screws 39 to a rib 4|! integral with socket section 1. Rib 40 is preferably positioned between the recesses 33. The support bracket has a bottom wall 4| and two parallel upstanding side walls 42 and 43. Arm 36 could be integral with wall 42 and bent at right angles thereto to overlie rib 40, but preferably it is formed as a separate piece and has 2. depending portion 44 which is welded to side wall 42, as indicated at 45. Insulating disk 34 is positioned between the end of flange l and side wall 42. Wall 42 is cut away, as indicated at 46 and 41,

Fig. 5, adjacent each recess 33 so that the wires connected to terminal |2 will not project above the socket in an unsightly manner. Wall 43 is provided with an aperture 48 through which the wires may pass when they. are to be connected to a source of electrical energy, or to an adjacent socket in which another fluorescent light tube is secured when a series of tubes is mounted in end to end relationship.

The bottom wall 4| has its ends turned downwardly, as indicated at 49 and 50, to engage flanges 3 and 4 of the reflector so that socket may be slid longitudinally relativeto the re- When the socket is properly positioned it is clamped against further longitudinal movement of the clamping plate 5|. Clamping plate 5| is substantially co-extensive in area with bottom wall 4| of the support bracket and has its ends 52 and 53 curved downwardly to fit beneath flanges 3 and 4 when theclamping plate is secured to wall 4|.

Clamping plate 5| and bottom wall 4| are each provided with a pair of threaded apertures adapted to register with each other and are secured together by the screws 54. When screws 54 are loose socket 5 may be freely slid longitudinally of the reflector, but when the screws are tightened the socket is fixed in position. Socket 6 is secured to reflector 2 in the same manner as described in connection with socket '5. The support bracket 31', by which socket 6 is secured to reflector 2, is a duplicate of bracket 31 except that end wall 43' is shown as being imperforate. If desired, end wall 43'- may also be provided with an aperture '48 or end wall 43 may be imperforate.

Socket 6 comprises a single tubular section having a circular flange 55 projecting beyond a cross wall 56. The space defined by the cross wall 56 and the end of circular flange 55 is closed by an insulating disk 58, similar to disk 34 and secured to the socket in the same manner. The space 5! is bisected by a rib 59 integral with cross wall 56. Rib 59 is flared outwardly to provide a wider portion, indicated at 60, Fig. 9, for increased strength.

Two metal members 6| extend through end wall 56 on opposite sides of rib 59. Each member 6| is provided with a threaded recess 62 to receive a terminal screw 63. A metal washer 64 is positioned around the end of each' member 6| to increase the area of contact between the end of member 6| and the head of the screw. Washers 64 are held in place by peening over the ends of member 6|, as indicated at 65, Fig. 8. The inner end of each member 6| has a resilient metal contact strip 66 secured thereto in any suitable manner. Metal strips 66 are bent outwardly so that a portion of each strip fits against the inside surface of socket 6, and then inwardly so that the ends of the strips are brought close enough to each other to cause them to resiliently engage the end of a fluorescent tube terminal which may be inserted therebetween. The extreme ends of strips 66 are bent back slightly, as indicated at iil, so that the fluorescent tube terminal cannot engage the extreme end of either strip.

A fiberdisk 68 is positioned adjacent a shoulder 69 formed on the inside of the socket immediately in front of ends 61 of strips 66. Disk 68 is secured to shoulder 69 by means of a plurality of screws 10. In order to provide clearance for the heads of the screws the inside of the tubular wall of socket 6 may be grooved, as indicated at H. Disk 68 has an aperture I2 which is small enough to leave an annular ring wide enough to conceal ends 61 of strips 66, and large enough to permit the insertion of a fluorescent light tube terminal so that the tube terminal may engage both of the strips 66 and be held resiliently therebetween.

The assembly and operation of the device is simple. Two sockets, one of which is a fixed socket and the other of which has a retractable section, each having a clamping plate loosely secured thereto, are slid alon the channel reflector until they are properly positioned in accordance with the length of the fluorescent light tube to be used. The clamping plates are then tightened to hold the sockets in position. A fluorescent light-tube is positioned between the sockets by inserting one tube terminal in engagement with resilient contact strips in the fixed socket. The other end of the fluorescent tube is placed near the other socket and the retractable section is moved out of the way by means of a finger piece attached thereto. The unsecured end of the fluorescent tube is then manually aligned axially with both sockets and the finger piece is released. The pressure of a coiled spring moves the retractable section of the second socket towards the fixed socket until the tube terminal is resiliently engaged by a contact member in the second socket. The contact member has an aperture so that the tube terminal is engaged by the diameter of the contact member surrounding the aperture instead of merely by a single point. In order to remove the fluorescent tube the retractable section of the second socket is moved out of contact with the tube terminal and the tube is moved angularly a small distance. The tube may then be moved longitudinally to remove its other terminal out of contact with the fixed socket.

Although I have described one preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that many details of structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described, except as limited by the appended claim.

I claim:

A socket comprising a relatively fixed section and a section slidable therein, a plate connected at one end to said slidable section, an elongated slot in said plate adjacent its opposite end. a

6 screw extending through said slot into said fixed section to limit the sliding movement of said slidable section, a finger piece secured. to said slidable section to move it inwardly relative to said fixed section, a projection extendin longitudinally of, and integral with said fixed section, said slidable section having a recess engaging said projection to maintain said sections in axial alignment at all times, and a spring operable to move said slidable section outwardly to the limit of its travel automatically upon release of pressure applied against said finger piece.

' GEORGE B. KURTZON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,564 Goodspeed Sept. 9, 1930 2,099,020 LaDucer Nov. 16, 1937 2,291,491 Naysmith July 28, 1942 2,297,886 Gustin et a1 Oct. 6, 1942 2,323,073 Netting June 29, 1943 2,393,180 Merrill Jan. 15, 1946 2,393,616 DeReamer et a1. Jan. 29, 1946 2,396,901 Tiffany Mar. 19, 1946 2,447,676 Webster Aug. 24, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 447,468 Germany July 21, 1927 558,017 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1943 

